So I’ve reached that age now where suddenly lots of people are getting engaged and married – I mean, I’m even starting to know people now who’ve been married and are separated at my age. If that doesn’t make my quarter life crisis panic set in, I don’t know what does! But I’ve always been fascinated by pretty jewellery and gemstones – yes, I was one of those annoying children that had to buy a bag full of pretty stones at every gift shop. And yes, I did spend hours choosing only the best ones. So I love knowing the meaning behind them. Engagement rings are an offering of love, a symbolic gift of absolute proof that your partner wants to be forever by your side, a beautiful offering that presents a promising future.
The most commonly bought engagement ring is a Diamond solitaire, a single beautiful Diamond, as a gift of true love. However, many people are now opting for alternative precious gemstones, especially because many have a certain meaning behind them.
“Diamond Ring” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Jeffrey Beall
What is a gemstone?
Gemstones can denote not only true love that will last forever, but are also supposed to enhance the wearers energy with their unique hidden properties. The energy from a crystal or gemstone engagement ring is said to connect with the heart chakra, which is believed to open your heart to accept eternal and pure love. Some people combine diamonds with a desired gemstone, for example Princess Diana had a 14 Diamond ring with a 12-carat Ceylon Sapphire stone set in the middle. The ring was then passed on by Prince Harry to the Duchess of Cambridge on their engagement.
“Jewelry” (CC BY 2.0) by Gnilenkov Aleksey
Top 10 Engagement Stone Meanings
- The Diamond – Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! Their crystal meaning symbolises richness, abundance and beauty. A Diamond signifies purity, love and fidelity and brings strength to a marriage, encouraging truth and trust.
- The Emerald – this green beauty is the sacred stone of Venus, the goddess of love. It signifies affection, a youthful appearance, compassion and harmony. It is known as ‘the stone of successful love’.
- The Aquamarine – symbolising hope, fidelity and peace in a loving marriage. The name itself suggests love as deep as the ocean blue. It is known as the stone that offers a strong marriage, long-lasting companionship, harmony and trust.
- The Sapphire – representing eternal love and known as the ‘Stone of Destiny’ and the ‘Stone of loyalty and fidelity’. The Sapphire is supposedly one of the most powerful stone to promote understanding and clarity between those in a marriage.
- The Ruby – supposedly acts as an aphrodisiac, deepening a closeness in marriage, encouraging commitment and loyalty. The Ruby is also said to restore passion and chances for conception, allowing us to experience all forms of love.
- The Pink Sapphire – brings renewal in feelings of love, acceptance and strength. The Pink Sapphire is known as the ‘Stone of Passion’ and encourages laughter, play and fun in a marriage. It strengthens vulnerability and overcomes emotional barriers.
- The Tanzanite – symbolising communication and speaking the truth which each other, the Tanzanite is said to encourage us to communicate and connect with each other. It strengthens a relationship by bringing peace, harmony and hope.
- The Amethyst – the gemstone that signifies transformation in love. It is the stone of Saint Valentine and symbolises faithful love, protection and togetherness. The Amethyst assists emotions, helping us to communicate.
- The Peridot – the beautiful lime green Peridot brings good fortune, happiness and peace to marriages. It symbolises prosperity, loyalty and love, and is often referred to as ‘The Evening Emerald’.
- The Pink Tourmaline – symbolising emotional balance and kindness. The Pink Tourmaline has a strong connection with the heart chakra, the centre of love. The beautiful pink colour represents femininity and nurturing.
Do you have an engagement stone that has meaning to you? Or is there a particular one you’d love to own one day?
My husband bought me an engagement ring with a teeny diamond in it whereas all my friends at the time were buying rings with huge stones in them. The difference? Mine was real. Theirs were cubic zirconia. That’s how he justified my teeny ring anyway LOL! We still chuckle about that now. It might be tiny, but it means a lot!
Suzy x
http://www.suzyturner.com
Author
Haha I love that story! I always think little rings are so much prettier than the huge stones anyway, plus I’d constantly be bashing one with a massive stone into everything, I’m so clumsy XD xx
It is an interesting article and to see how the idea or image of an engagement ring has changed.